Gone, But Not Forgotten

by Angela Sanford

   Like everything else, as the years pass

, so do the seasons—and the local geography. Our shoreline changes along the Bay through erosion. Community members move in and out. Each generation experiences its community from its own perspective.

   But does the community really change? Or does history simply repeat itself?

   Like seasons on a farm, things have a way of coming back around.

   At the corner of Routes 236 and 354, in the heart of Kennetcook, sits a property that has been an important part of the community since its doors first opened. It began as a general store, later became a restaurant and Sears pickup location , and most recently was home to Kennetccok Pizza, better known to locals as Sammy’s. However, at this time we do not know what the future holds for that building but you can bet it will be an integral part of “downtown.”

   Meanwhile, pizza has once again found its way back into the area with the opening of Soft N Crispy Pizza. But long before Sammy’s, (some of our younger generations may not know) one of the area’s original pizza joints was Ettinger’s—our local equivalent of Berwick’s famous Bargain Harley’s with new finds arriving each week.  Our very own Ettinger’s offered pizza, and yes, even delivery, which I appreciated on a Saturday night when I was babysitting.

   And before Summertime Treats became the hot spot for cold treats, the Co-op in Noel offered a hard-scoop ice cream stand to locals and tourists alike. It certainly couldn’t compete with the ice cream empire that Summertime Treats has become, but at the time, it did the job.

   Of course, there was the Co-op itself. As I’ve mentioned in previous blogs about corner stores, they were once commonplace. But in the 1980s, Hants North actually had three larger grocery stores: the Co-op in Noel, the IGA in Rawdon, and the Foodmaster in Kennetcook. Today, only one remains.

   Interestingly, although the IGA hasn’t been there since the 1980s, its parking lot remains—and it is still a familiar point of reference whenever I’m explaining how to get somewhere from Rawdon. To anyone with a little seniority around here, “where the IGA used to be” is still a perfectly acceptable direction.

   And before Snappers became a central watering hole, Keith’s Place offered a pub atmosphere for our generation. Before the Burger Shack drew us in for takeout, there was Deanna’s Take-Out, where the food was excellent, the portions were large, the prices were reasonable—and the lines were long as a result, much like the Burger Shack today. At least, that’s what I’m told—I can only enjoy the scent, not the food itself!

   And even before Deanna’s, I remember the many excellent canteens scattered throughout the area: Rena serving up deep-fried yummies at The Rec, and Curtis’s Canteen with, in my opinion, some of the best onion rings around.

   Interestingly, I don’t recall ever walking into any of these establishments without seeing a jar of pickled eggs sitting on the counter beside the cash register. But somewhere along the way, the jars quietly disappeared. I don’t remember when it happened—I just remember realizing one day that they weren’t there anymore.

   And before the Guardian Pharmacy arrived, Leland Henninger brought the Kennetcook Pharmacy to life beside the NSLC on Route 236. There are countless other examples of things that have been reclaimed from history—and some that never really left, like Frieze and Roy’s, or several of our local gas stations that have simply changed ownership over the years.

   It was the 1980s and early 1990s—a period of local history that seems to be repeating itself. We’ve discovered that pizza, take-out, and ice cream are staples of life in our neck of the woods. But it makes me wonder: will history repeat itself in other ways?

   Could our population one day be large enough to support three grocery stores again? Could bowling and theatre once again become part of everyday community life, as they were in years past? In fact, if you know where to look, the Noel Fire Hall still holds clues to the bowling alley that once occupied the space. Will Friday night dances once again become a regular gathering place for younger generations at the Green Hall? 

   Maybe. Maybe not. Only time will tell.